On Monday January 25, 2010, the community was treated to a sneak peak at the new location of the Children’s Center for Science & Technology (previously the Children’s Museum of the Valley), formally located on East Boardman Street in downtown Youngstown.  Late last year the Center’s board of directors completed a lease agreement with First National Bank of Pennsylvania for the relocation of operations to the historic McCrory Building on Central Square.

Standing in middle of the now-bare 16,000 square-foot building, Ron Faniro, board president, credited the relationship with First National Bank, the collaboration with the YSU College of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, and the early success of a capital campaign all factors in making the relocation to the larger facility possible.

When open, the new Center will offer hands-on, interactive exhibits that are unlike those found in other children’s museums.  Faniro said the board has contracted with one of the top design firms in the country to create exhibits that are totally unique, fun, and at the same time, educational.  “In a word, what we will offer here is ‘edutainment,’” he remarked.

A highlight of the event was the unveiling of a new name and graphic logo for the Center.  The facility will now be known as “OH WOW!” The Gloria & Roger Jones Children’s Center for Science & Technology.  Suzanne Barbati, the Center’s executive director, said the new branding image captures the excitement that children and families will experience when they visit.  “Based on the nature of the new hi-tech, hands-on exhibits, we believe we are going to hear a lot of ‘Oh Wows’,” she beamed. 

The new name also honors Gloria and Roger Jones of Youngstown, long-time supporters and major contributors to the Center’s “Science Makes Cents” capital campaign.  The couple, appearing in a pre-recorded video, said they became involved because nothing is more important than the education of children.

Bruce Sherman, chairman of the capital campaign, commented that a significant amount of the $1.5 million goal has already been pledged and cited local foundations, individual donors, and area businesses for their generosity.

Congressman Tim Ryan commented that the hi-tech nature of the exhibits and programs the Center will offer make it a perfect fit into the Valley’s focus on tech-based industries starting up or relocating here.  “With the Youngstown Business Incubator and Turning Technologies two blocks down Federal Street the vision of creating a hi-tech corridor downtown is taking shape,” the congressman remarked.

The focus of  “OH WOW” will be providing hands-on, interactive experiences for children ages 5 thru 12 with accompanying opportunities for learners of all ages.  The facility expects to have a regional impact, drawing between 25-30 thousand visitors in the first year from across the tri-state area.

Plans for the renovation of the building’s two floors are expected to be complete soon with construction getting underway in the early spring.

Additional information is available online at www.ValleyKids.org.